Date of birth:

July 27th, 1920 (Taos/New Mexico, United States)

Date of death:

May 26th, 1943 (Attu, Aleuthians)

Buried on:

American War Grave Ault Cemetery

Nationality:

American

In August 1942 Martinez, then 22 years old, was drafted and sent to basic training at Camp Roberts, California. He was then assigned to Company K, 32nd Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, most of whose troops had underwent similar training and were utterly unprepared for the Arctic conditions under which they would make their fighting debut.
From the landings at Attu’s Holtz Bay on June 11, the 7th Division troops were caught up in a slow slog from the terrain and weather, as well as fighting that ranged from mortars and artillery to hand-to-hand with bayonets. For his part, Pvt. Martinez raised K Company’s firepower with a Browning automatic rifle, or BAR.

By late May, the Americans had reached a knifelike mountain ridge flanking a snow-covered defile, from which the Japanese defenses, towering 150 feet above them, managed to hold for several days.

As Martinez’ citation described the situation, “Repeated efforts to drive the enemy from a key defensive position high in the snow, covered by precipitous mountains between the east arm of Holtz Bay and Chichigof Harbor had failed.
On 26 May 1943, troop dispositions were readjusted and a trial coordinated attack on this position by a reinforced battalion was launched. Initially successful, the attack hesitated.”

At that point Martinez literally rose to the occasion.
Springing forward, he advanced on his own, taking out one enemy defensive position after another using his BAR and grenades, pausing only to urge every soldier he met to revive the assault.
Success bred success with each enemy position Martinez eliminated. His comrades, inspired by his example, joined in the uphill charge.
Destroying several more enemy sites, Martinez ultimately reached a 15-foot rise called the Fishhook. From the elevated position he began firing into a last enemy trench, when one of its occupants shot him in the head.
Martinez’s fellows were keen to rush him back to a medical facility, but the continuing struggle beyond the ridge rendered that impossible.

The next morning, K Company discovered that the Japanese, judging their position untenable, had all withdrawn, but it was too late for Joe Martinez, who died of his head wound.
“The pass, however, was taken,” his citation noted, “and its capture was an important preliminary to the end of organized resistance on the island.”

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private

Unit:

Company K, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division "Bayonet", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

October 27th, 1943

Awarded for:

Operation Landcrab

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy. Over a period of several days, repeated efforts to drive the enemy from a key defensive position high in the snow-covered precipitous mountains between East Arm Holtz Bay and Chichagof Harbor had failed. On 26 May 1943, troop dispositions were readjusted and a trial coordinated attack on this position by a reinforced battalion was launched. Initially successful, the attack hesitated. In the face of severe hostile machinegun, rifle, and mortar fire, Pvt. Martinez, an automatic rifleman, rose to his feet and resumed his advance. Occasionally he stopped to urge his comrades on. His example inspired others to follow. After a most difficult climb, Pvt. Martinez eliminated resistance from part of the enemy position by BAR fire and hand grenades, thus assisting the advance of other attacking elements. This success only partially completed the action. The main Holtz-Chichagof Pass rose about 150 feet higher, flanked by steep rocky ridges and reached by a snow-filled defile. Passage was barred by enemy fire from either flank and from tiers of snow trenches in front. Despite these obstacles, and knowing of their existence, Pvt. Martinez again led the troops on and up, personally silencing several trenches with BAR fire and ultimately reaching the pass itself. Here, just below the knifelike rim of the pass, Pvt. Martinez encountered a final enemy-occupied trench and as he was engaged in firing into it he was mortally wounded. The pass, however, was taken, and its capture was an important preliminary to the end of organized hostile resistance on the island."

Awarded posthumously

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private

Unit:

Company K, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division "Bayonet", U.S. Army

• Photo 1: Findagrave.com (Bill McKern)
• - Jordan, Kenneth N., Yesterday’s Heroes, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., USA, 1996.
  - militarytimes.com

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